Call transmitter



March 30, 1937. v. F. MILLER CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Sept. 18, 1935 4 ShQeLS-She8t l Jililb Illlllllll llfll March 30, 1937. v. F. MILLER 2,075,536

CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Sept. 18, 1935 4 Sheet's-Sheet 2 /NVENTOR l f. M/L L ER A 7' TORNE V March 30, 1937. V F 1 R 2,075,536

CALL TRANSMITTER Filed Sept, 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /NVENTOR y l F M/LLER A TTORNE) March 30, 1937. v. F. MILLER CALL TRANSMITIER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept 18, 1935 lNl/ENTOR l F MILL ER ar d %(ae.

Patenteri Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CALL TRANSMITTER Victor F. Miller, Queens Village, N. Y. assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York This invention re1ates to ca1l transmitters for use with automatic telephone systems and more particulariy to repertory cal1 transmitters as shown for example in Patent 1306829 to E. A.

Mellinger, dated June 1'7, 1919.

In the cal1 transmitter disclosed in that patent each of the telephone numbers to be called by the device is represented by a code disc, these discs being removably mounted on a shaft. A

carriage is provided carrying the impulse springs and a manually operable index member projects from the casing by means of which the springs may be moved into operative relation to any code disc, anti upon depression and release of a lever the shaft rtates and the selected cocle disc actu ates the impulse springs to transmit the Code individual tosaid disc.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction and Operation of such devices.

According to the invention, means is provided whereby the manual adjusting movement of a carriage, as indicated by a pointer on a cooperating name-plate, is effective to simultaneously position a contact actuating member in operative 25 relation with one of the code discs and a sliding member in position wherein the operation of this member at right angles to its selective movement is effective to disengage the selected code disc from its supporting shafts for replacement 30 by another disc representing another code designation. Automatically operable means is provided for centering the selecting arm and the slicling member with respect to the disc selected.

Means actuated by the rotation of the ende discs 5 is provided for preventing the movement cf the contact actuating member upon the impulse sending operation of the transmitter and means is provided for readily locking and. removing the back plate of the housing as to give access to the operating parts of the transmitter and the remova1 and insertion of the code discs on their supporting shafts with means provided in the front plate of the transmitter housing for removably receiving the cards or name-plates bearing the names of the subscribers repres6nted by the code discs.

Other features of the invention and advantages will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being 50 had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top view cf the transmitter housing showing the index and operating knob in se1ecting position on the n'ame-plates;

Fig. 2 is a top assembly view of the transmit- 55 ter mechanism shown with the housing removed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal assembly view of the mechanism shown with the housing and a number of operating parts in section;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a partial view showing the code selecting mechanism in thelocked position.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 ancl 5, the numerals 9, II! anal II indicate upright supports which are he1d in assembled relation by a plurality of spacer bars I2, I3 and I4, the bar I3 being formed along its length with a plurality of notches I5 provided for a purpose that will be hereinafter desoribed in detai1.

In the upright supports 9 and III is journaled a rotatable shaft I6 and on this shaft is secured, as by screws 20 and 2I, the disc members I'I and I8 provided for mounting a bar I9 of trapezoidal cross-section parallel to the longitudinal axis of shaft I6. 011 shaft I6 and the bar I9 is mounted in side-by-siderelation a plurality 01" ende discs 23, each having a radial slot 24 extending to the center of the disc for readily centering them on the shaft and the slot is tapered adjacent the periphery of the disc for engaging the nonparalle1 sides of the bar I9 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Each disc is provided With a forkshaped spring member 28 having its prong portions engaging diametrically opposite points on the shaft I6 for holding them resiliently in ad.- justed position on the shaft while the bar I9 effectively locates these discs in aligned relation with respect to groups of teeth representing telephone designations, as is we11 known in the telephone art and disc-shaped spacer members, such as 25, and 2'I, shown in Fig. 5, carried by each disc serve to hold these discs in spaced relation on the shaft I9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

On the spacer bar I3 there is slidably mounted a carriage 29 having a downwardly extending bracket 30 secured thereon for slidably mounting an arm 3I, this arm being held in normal retracted position, as shown in Fig. 4, by a retractile spring 32 shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

On carriage 29 is pivotably mounted a double armed lever member, the arm II of which is provided for engaging the notches I5 in the spacer member I3 under the tension of a spring 42 While the arm 40 of this lever exterids in opposite direction to arm II in operative relation With the bar I9 which when in normal po'sition, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, imriart a smail angular movement to this lever member for disengaging the arm 4I from the noteh I5 of spaeer I3 and thereby permitting the sliding movement of the sarriage for a purpose that will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to be noted, however, that the rotating movement 0f shaft I6 and the bar I9 carried thereby from the position shown in Fi gs. 2, 4 and 5 to the position indicated in Fig. 6 is efiective toeause the arm III to engage, under Ehe tension of spring 42, one of the notches I5 for preventing the lateral movement of carriage 29 0n spacer member I3 during the Operation 015 the transmitter.

On carriage 29 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) is secured, as by serews 44 and 45, an arm 48, th e free end o f which rests an the spacer bar I4 and to the under side of arm 43 is mounted in a pile.-up arrangement the shunt springs 48 and 4'I, an actuating member 48 for the shunt springs, and an arm 49 bearing against the spacer member I4 with a predetermined tension for frietionall holding the carriage 29-. and the contact actuating member 48 in selected position with respect to the code discs 23 in cooperation with a ball B engaging the notches I5 underthe tension of the spring TS mounted on carriage 29which selection is effected by the movernent of a knob 50 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, in turn slidably mounted on a guiding bar 5I-. A platze 52, which is bent around the guiding bar 5I and having its free ends embedded in the knob 50, is provided with a rectangular opening R0 in which the upright lug member 53- of Carriage 29 extends f.or operatively connectingthis carriage- With the knob 50; Plate 52 is formed integrally with in dex members 54- and 55 movable in juxtaposition to dial plates 56 and 59 on whieh are printed the names, of subscribers as represented by the code discs 23, these name-plates being slipped in adjustecl position in parallel disposed grooves 58 and 59formed in thetop portions ofthehousing H which is secured on laterally extending lug portions I00, IOI, I02 and I03 by similar screws I04 While a plate.95 which ferms the complement portion of housing H, is provided with a pair of tongues I05 and I06and=a cammingportion I0I -for engaging the slots I08and I09in the upright suppori; I0 while a spring 98 carried by the upright supporfr II- permits Ehe ready removal of this-pIate-as togive aece ssto;the code; disc 23and other operating parts of the transmitter.

The tensiening of a motpr spring 60upon the operation ofa handle lever member GI within the limit determined by the stop lugs 81 and 88 is effective to rotate the shaft I6 and the code discs 23 carried thereby throug h the operat ion of gear 62 and pinion 63, connectedto the spring shaft 86 by a one-vyay efiective clutch element 9I carriedby gear 62- and a cemplement; element not shown carriedby shaft I6 the movement of shaft I6 being controlled by a centrifugal governor 64- operatively connected to shaft I6 through th e Warm 65, theworm gear 66, shown in Fig. 2, the pinion 61 engaged by the gear 68, the pinion 69 carriedby Iihis gear, and gear I0 secured 130 Shafl} I6. The spindle II on Whieh the pinion 61 andthe go vernor worm wheel 66 are mpunted has one end*journaled in the upr1gnt support 9- and its other end is journaled in a bracket 13 secur ed 120 this support by,screws 14 and I5 as shown in Figs. 2' and 3' and on this end of spindle II is mounted a duplex camrning member I6 provi ded fo r actuating the impulse springs II and I8 upon the operation of shunting springs 46 and 4'I' asefieeted by the.code. discs 23 as will-loe hereinafter described in detail.

On shaft I 6 adjaeent the gear 10 is securely mounted a disc member 19 having a notch shown in Fig. 4 normally engaged by the arm 8I of a lever member 82 this lever having an arm 83 provided for simultaneously engaging a stop in the for m of a screw 84 carried by the spindle II for holding the duplex cam I6 and the impulse springs 'II and I8 actuated thereby in the open position and the bar I9 engaging member 41 for closing the shunting contacts 46 and 4I.

A cam 85 secured on the motor spring shaf.t 86 is provided for disengaging the arm 8I of lever 82 from the disc 19 and the arm 83 of this lever from the stop screw 84 upon the movement of handle lever 6I an angular distance limited by the stop lugs 81 carried by the bearing portion of lever 6I and a cooperating lug member 88 extending laterally from a plate 89 which is, in turn, secured to the upright support II. Upon the release of handle lever 6I by the operator and the consequent turning movement of shaft I6 and the disc I9, the arm 83 06 lever 82 is prevented from engaging the stop screw 84 dueto the arm portion 8I of this lever bearing on- I;he

periphery of the disc I9 under the tension of\ spring 90, this spring being effective tooperate lever 82 at the completion of a completeturn of shaft I6 and. of the disc I9 carried thereby by reengaging the arm 88 of this lever with the stop screw 84 for stopping the transmitter mechaniSm.

A typical call transmitting operation of the de vice is as follows:

The movement of knob 50 along the guiding bar 5I is efiective to move the carriage 29 and to plane one of the index members 54 and 55 in registry with the name of the telephone subscriber wanted. The movement of carriage 28places the shunting contact operating member 48 in operativerelation with one of the code discs 23 which are formed, as well known in the telephone art, by cutting groups of teeth CP to represent the telephone number 0f the subscribers, the names 0f which appear on the name-plates 56 and 51 Under this condition, the angular movementr of the handle lever GI and its suppor-ting spindle 86 within the limit defined by stops 8-I and 88 is efiective to tension the motor spring 60 and to rotate the cam 85 carried thereby a sma11 angular distanoe for pivotinglever arm 82 against the resistance of spring 90 for disengaging the arm 8I from the notch 80 indisc I9and arm 83 from the stop screw 84. The tension of motor spring 60 upon the release of handlelever 6I by the-operator is effective to rotate the gea-r 62 through the engagement of iIss-clutch element 9Iwith an associated clutch element, not shown, on the spinclle 86. The movement of gear 62 is imparted to shaft I6 through the engagement of this gear with pinion 63, the movement of shaft I6 being efiective 1:0 rotate the gear I0, the notched disc I9, andthe Code disc 23 for actuating the shunt springs 46 and 47 through-the operationofmember 48 according to the formation of the cod'e disc selected.

The movement of shaft I6, is imparted to the duplex camming member I6 through the gear trai n which includes as aboye mentioned, the gear I0- carried by the shaft; I6, the pinion 69 secured gear 68 and pinion 61 on spindle,lly the. gear ratio from gear I0 130 pinion 6Ibeing such as to impart half a turn to cam I6zfbr. each tooth of the coole discs and therefore one operationof the impulse contac ts I1 and 'l8ior each of these teeth, laut it is to be noted that the" shunting Co'ntacts 46 and H are closed upon the passing of the groups of teeth CP in registry with the contact operating arm 48, thus negativing the operation 015 the impulse springs 'I'I and 18 as efiectecl by the operation of thelr actuating cam IG.

Upon the passing of the recesses RC in registry with the contact operating arm 48, the passing causes the bpening of contacts 46 and 41 for rendering the operation of the impulse springs 16 and I8 efiective for sending a number of pulses corresponcling {so the number of teeth cut ofl! from the disc, thus escablishing the desired connection.

AI: the conclusion of a call sending operation when the bar I9 reaches the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the arm 8I of lever 82 under the tension of spring is pivoted for engaging its arm 8I in notches 80 of dlsc I8 and thereby permitting the arm 83 to move in the path of stop screws 84 for stopping the operating mechanism against the initial tension of the motor spring 60. 'I'he return of bar I9 to its normal position also engages the arm 40 for pivoting this memher and thereby dlsengaging its arm 4I from the notch I5 cf spacer bar I3, chus preparing the transmitter for a succeeding operation.

The code discs 23, as above mentioned, may be disengaged selectively from their supporting shaft I6 for replacement by other discs bearing other telephone designations by moving one of the indices 54 and 55 as the case may be in registry with one of the names appearing on the plates 56 and 51, shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the operation of the knob 50 to which these indices are secured being eflective to move the carriage 29, as above described, and the manually operable arm 3I carried thereby in registry with the disc bearing the telephone number of the selected name wherein the sliding movement 013 the arm 3l on the carriage 29 against che resistance of spring 32 in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 5 is efiective to engage and impart move ment to this disc for disengaging the spring 26 from alle shaft 60 and thereby releasing that disc,

'I'he metallic plate may easlly be unhooked from the upright supports III and. II as to give access to tl1e disc and other operating parts of the transmitter.

Changes may be made to the call transmitter of the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a. call transmitter, a mounting Irame, a

shaft journaled in said frame, a pair 01 dlsc members mounted on the opposlte ends cf said. shaft, a bar carried by said members, a plurality of code discs each having a radial slot for engaging said shaft and said bar in side-by-side relation, a fork-shaped member carried by each of said discs for yieldably engaging said shaft, a stationary shaft mounted on said frame in parallel relation to the first-mentioned shaft, a. carriage mounted for sliding movement on the second-mentioned shaft, and means posltioned by the movement of said carriage and. manually operable for imparting movement the selected disc for disengaging it from said shaft and said bar.

2. In a call transmitter, a mounting frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame, code disc members mounted in side-by-side relation on said shaft, a stationary shaft mounted on said frame in parallel relation to the first mentioned shaft and. having notches registering with said disc members, a carriage mounted for sding movement on the second-mentioned shaft, an impulse mechanism, a member mounted on said carriage actuated. by the movement of said disc members for controlling the operation 015 said mechanism, and a latch set by the movement of said carriage and controlled by the opeiation of said disc members for engaging the notches in said stationary shait for locking said sarriage from movement on said stationary shaft during the operation of said disc members.

3. In a. call transmitter, a mounting frame, a rotatable shaft journaled in said frame, code disc members mounted in spaced relation on said shaft, a stationary shaft mounted on said frame in parallel relation the first-mentioned shaft and having notches one for each of said diso members, a carriage mounted for sli dlng movement on said notched shaft, an impulse mechanism, a member mounted on said. carriage actuated by the movement of said disc members for controlling the operatiun of said mechanism, a spring, a, plunger mounted. on said darriage for engaging the notches in said statiorlary shaft under the tenslon of said spring for automatically centering said arm with respect to the code element selected, a latch mounted on said carriage controlled by the operation cf said disc members for engaging the notches in said stationary shaft for locking said carriage in adjustecl position during the operation of said disc members.

VICTOR F. MILLER. 

